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I have been doing 3D modeling for fun in POV-RAY, an open source 3D modeling and raytracing application, and am interested in printing some of my models.

From what I’ve read, STL files get converted to bitmaps that tell the printer where there is and is not material. I can slice my objects directly into bitmaps in PNG or any common graphics file format. Would that enable me to skip the STL stuff altogether and just give the printer a set of bitmapped slices?

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Usually, STL files are loaded into a slicing program that turns them into gcode files (or some format that is proprietary to a brand). The gcode file is instructions for how to move the print head (and how much plastic to deposit while moving). I have not run into a system using a bitmap yet.

If you can build a new gcode creator, we would all be interested.

[EDIT]

I was in a hurry last night. You can find a good source for gcode on the RepRap Wiki.

I always liked POV-RAY. I started my 3D design work in that back in 1992. At that time, the only way to work was to build a description file by hand. I will have to look it up again.

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I’m afraid building a new gcode creator is beyond my current abilities or inclination to pursue.

I found a web site that describes using PNG bitmaps with CandyFab. They actually start with an STL file and convert it to a POV-Ray file, then produce a stack of PNG bitmaps representing the voxels to be printed.

I also found an article from 2012 at engineering.com claiming that voxel-based printing was the way of the future. Apparently there were a few printers available at the time that worked this way.

A more recent article at 3dprintingindustry.com concerns a project at Arizona State University to do voxel printing with plastic and metal.

I’d love to be able to print this object, which is produced using the POV-Ray “spheresweep” object. However, I’m not sure I’m up to the task of building my own 3d printer, and the ready-to-use devices I’ve found seem to depend on downloading or learning to create STL files. The search continues…